Wednesday, February 11, 2015

When Mona Finds Winnie! ((And a Special Giveaway!))

This Give-Away is CLOSED! Congrats to our Lucky Winner, Robyn in Texas!

This is going to be a long post. So just grab a cuppa, settle in, put your feet up and hang out for a while..because it’s worth it!

When Mona and I ran around Winston Salem, antique mall hopping while her hubby was sitting in some VA office somewhere filling out piles of paperwork, I told her to be on the look out for a featherweight box. They show up in the most unusual places and you will almost miss them if you don’t know what you are looking for.

She had my featherweight and the case she knew what a black box featherweight case looks like…we just never thought we’d find TWO!

Yes. TWO!

We rounded a corner, I pointed my finger excitedly and exclaimed “Black Box! Black Box!” It was all I could get out of my mouth.

We checked it, a featherweight indeed ---only when we plugged it in, it proved to be a dud. The light turned on, the foot pedal didn’t work. She ran out to the car to get the foot pedal from mine so we could try it to eliminate whether it was a foot pedal issue or worse.

It ran –intermittently. And it struggled. A lot. It’s not a foot pedal issue, it could be electrical – it could be the motor. At any rate THAT one was not worth the taking because on top of the asking price, we’d have to pay to have it fixed, and it had issues of unkown origin.
So we left. And went to the next mall….and wouldn't you believe it we almost didn’t see this one in the glass case below our knees? We’d walked past it twice!

Now this little sweetie has had a hard life. Or a good life of lots of sewing, depending on how you look at it.

Chrome hand wheel, scroll face plate– early model!

Her decals are about worn off. Her clear coat is nearly gone in spots.

She PURRS. She HUMS. She is full of verve and vigor and just begging to be adopted.

And she came home for Mona!

Yeah, it was love at first sight!

SO excited. Because of the condition the seller came down to $225.00 which was very reasonable. The case is loaded. There is an attachment box with EVERYTHING including the manual. There are several bobbins. The bobbin case was there ---she just hadn't been cleaned up in a LONG LONG TIME.

It was decided that WINNIE ((So named because we found her in Winston Salem!)) would come home with me so I could give her the once over.

Ready for a clean up job on my table.

Serial number date her to 1937!

Check out the remains of that rubber foot --- that grey mess! I have 4 new rubber feet to go on her, but I’m going to let Rick chisel the old concrete rubber away and get the screw out – that’s quite a job, the old ones really did solidify like cement!

Bobbin area…GUNKY!!!

Behind the face plate…oh boy!

Around the feed dogs under the needle plate…ewwww!

I use a soft bristled paint brush to get all of the lint and gunk out. Where a brush won’t reach I’ll use a cotton swab. It takes time to get all the goobers out – at this point I’m wondering when she was last sewn on!

The manual will tell you every place you need to oil. I oiled liberally. I also used a special concoction for her gears and motor:

Nova Montgomery’s Motor Lubricant!

Nova had sent me a tube to try, and this was the perfect time to do it! I followed Nova’s instructions in her video:

It really was easy!

You can find more info on Nova’s website HERE. She also carries lots of goodies for featherweight machines, so bookmark her as a resource.

Giving Winnie a test run!

New needle, cleaned and oiled and lubed and threaded and ready to roll.

Great tension!

I am so happy for Mona. Winnie will be going up to the Mountain to her cabin this weekend while I’m gone. She’s found a new forever home with a new quilter who will love her greatly.

The feather-mate tables are made by the Greer family right here in the USA. I bought one a couple of years ago, and last week I ordered this second one because I kept forgetting to either take it to the cabin from home, or forgot to bring it back home and left it at the cabin and I decided I really needed two.

The best thing about the Feather-mate table as well as all of the other models of sewingmates tables? They fit MORE THAN ONE MACHINE! I can use this table with ANY of my vintage machines because of these:

Hand lathed adjustable aluminum legs!

These legs are turned on a vintage lathe by the Greer’s son. It’s a family business, and everyone is involved. These legs will give you double the options that you see here, because you can turn them upside down for a greater range of height increments.

If it doesn’t say GREER it’s not a Sewing Mate!

The screws are counter sunk and the table top is smooth smooth smooth! Unlike inexpensive black tubular legs that other makes have, these will not pop off half way to retreat leaving you to prop your lopsided table on a phone book to get it level. Yes, I’ve had that happen in the past. This is sturdy hardware!

It works with my featherweight, it works with my 301, it works with ANY vintage machine I have!

The unique L shape is PERFECT for traveling. A flat bed machine doesn’t need a full surround like a free arm machine would. And did you see the easy carry handle?

If you have a Featherweight, you are going to WANT a Feather-Mate!

So guess what we are going to do? GIVE AWAY A FEATHER-MATE!

The Greers have offered up a prize for one lucky winner residing within the USA! ((Please understand, this is a heavy item, and it already has an $89.00 value so we can’t ship overseas for this giveaway.))

Simply leave me a comment in the comments section below to be entered to win. One entry per person. Please leave your name and email address if you are signing in as anonymous. If you are logged in with a blogger or google+ account, please check that your email address is visible in your profile. We MUST be able to reach you by email if you are drawn. If we can’t reach you by email, we will have to draw again.

When in doubt, just leave your email!

No, you can’t email your comment in, you can’t comment in the guest book, you can’t comment on Facebook or instagram…it has to be HERE. On this post. So I can use the random number generator to choose our lucky winner. It’s only fair that way!

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1,757 comments:

Would love to win in your giveaway. Recently found your webpage and usually fall asleep watching archives after a long exhausting day at work. Have to watch them a couple of times to catch everything. Love it.Maryrnorris@yahoo.com

I'm glad that Mona has found a good machine to start with. I love my feather weight that I found on Craigslist and 'Louise" is just great. She hadn't been used in almost 15 years according to the owners grand-daughter. I would love to have this to go with her...maybe bring her to class the next time you're here playing with us...lol

OOh! Ooh! Pick me!! (Image-a little kid jumping up and down, waving her arms franticallly :) )I have a 1935 Featherweight. Her name is Floye (who was the previous owner), I purchased Floye at an antique mall here in Swannanoa. You really need to make a trip to Asheville area to browse the antique malls here. Anyway, this would be a perfect addition for her.

I am sooooo happy for Mona! The look on her face clutching her new baby is wonderful. I got my FW "Lilly" for Christmas last year and do love her too. I would be delighted to have the little table for her too. I'll definitely have to check out their website...just in case.Thank you Greers and Bonnie.

I have a sewing mate table for my other machines. They even had directions to reverse one of the pieces to fit my Bernina 750 written on the invoice. So it fits my Pfaff, my Jenome and my Bernina. I don't have one for my feather weight and would love one!

What a fun day!! Sew happy for Mona! Love the feather mate, would love to have one! Thanks for the give away!My featherweight is named Betty. Found her on Craig's list, I texted about it, someone was coming to look at her, so I gave up on her, who would pass up on it? Well, next day got an text, the person never showed up! What! Couldn't believe it! Yes, I want her! She is named after the owner, barely used, everything there.

Oh Mona is going to LOVE LOVE LOVE sewing with Winnie!! What a get treasure! Would love to win this great table!! thanks for the opportunity!! AND THANKS for all that you do for us. You are such a caring and giving gal!

Wow, this would be a wonderful prize! I own a FW too. Annie was a gift from a wonderful friend of mine. Just this year I found a case for her too, for $25. I have a desk that belonged to my Dad and if I had this table it would be a wonderful accessory to pair with my Annie!Thank you Bonnie, for all you do for us quilters! :)(just in case, my email address is sewangelic at sbcglobal dot net )

Grannie77064@yahoo.com would love to have a table. I went to one of Nova's Featherweight maintenance classes and highly recommend it to anyone who owns a FW. P.s. I'm almost through piecing my Grand Illusions on my FW named Peanut.

I'd love a chance to win this. I wasn't aware extensions were made for vintage machines and I have several. My machines would be so much easier to use with one of these. Thanks for the opportunity to win one.

How fun! This is literally the FIRST time I've been to your blog via "Quilt Hollow". Was told to check you out since we are heading to NC in roughly 6 weeks to look for our "forever after" home. Used to blog heavy but now focus mainly on IG (as "sewcindy" and I already follow you there). This sweet gem of a table would be GREAT to travel with!! Look forward to following you regularly, learning about "Bonnie Hunter" and ABSOLUTELY enjoying NC! Thank you. (Cindy) sc@sccarlson.com

This was just the most awesome post! Great story about finding Mona's Featherweight, great video about lubricating our machines, and great information about the Feathermate. I never knew about them. Thanks for all the wonderful tips and info you pass on to us, and thanks too, for offering the giveaway!

I love to bring old Singer sewing machines back to life. You are very lucky to live in a place where you can find old sewing machines. It is amazing what a little love can do for a machine. Keep rescuing sewing machines!!!!

Holy moly! Could not believe your blog this morning. I have just started getting into VSM's and have 10 already. I would love to have one to use with my 301A! Still looking for a FW. Maybe someday at the auction or at an estate sale. karen.clark2012@comcast.net

Thank you Bonnie for all the wonderful info you share with us . This awesome table would go great with my little featherweight. Thank you Greer family for making a great product and for your generosity.msmargie2@gmail.com

I love, love, love my featherweight. It's the machine I use when we travel in our RV. Ladies with their Berninas and whatever's see my little black machine and ask me, "is that a toy?" When I tell them about all the Bonnie blocks and leader/Enders I've sewn on her that ends the discussion and off they go to find their own. Bonnie, thanks for all you do and for the inspiration. I'd love to be the winner this time. That table is awesome.

Oooooooh! What a wonderful giveaway ! Thanks so much for the chance to win. Either my featherweight Dorothy or my 301 Lucy would love to dress up with this cute little skirt! They are both such hard workers they deserve it! Thanks for a chance to win. EllieElively@indy.rr.com

What a great idea for a giveaway. I would love to have one of these to fit my Secretariat! Yes, because she is the best thoroughbred in the stable!! She will be coming with me to Quilt Camp in Maine in October to see Bonnie!! Thanks for this opportunity, Bonnie and Greer! abusyquilter@yahoo.com

I am going to my first retreat in March and I am taking Louise, my featherweight. She is named after my grandmother, who would let me sew on her treadle when I visited in the summer. I would love to win this table. Thank you for the chance. Ann in Michigan. attywfuchs@aol.com

I've just bought my first Featherweight and I'm waiting (not too patiently) for the needed/missing parts to make her run like a top! I would LOVE to have a table to complete my newest addition! Lynne FraasMy email is: lynnefraas@yahoo.com

I totally understand love at first sight when finding a Featherweight. So happy for Mona and Winnie. She will be well loved. Mona is lucky to have a friend like you to guide her. Thanks for the chance to win the sewing table. Would be great to take to retreats with my girl, Sewphie! Love reading about all your adventures on your blog. lynnlahr@gmail.com

So Happy for Mona's find. Perfect gift for Valentine's Day. Been meaning to get one or two of these tables. Lets give it a try for a win. If no win, I will surely need to make the purchase. Bonnie thanks for all your help, instructions, patterns and sharing. Happy Valentine's day.

I would love to have one of these tables for my Featherweight that I take to retreats . Have the one I use at home in it's own table. What great people to make these things for us quilters. Must check out their website. Thanks, Bonnie

Would love a Greer featherweight table. I have one for my bernina and it's awesome. I'm still on the hunt for me first featherweight. I just wish I had you shopping with me so I wouldn't make aid take!!!

Oh Yes!! throw my name in! My hubby made a wooden extension for my kenmore--good job but clunky and heavy. The feathermate would be lovely to have when I use my featherweight.Anita perhapstoday@twc.com

what a generous giveaway! I have several vintage machines that could use a wonderful extension like this. Currently working on a singer 306 K and AM ready to find a way to use it without having another cabinet in the sewing room! Perfect solution thanks for the opportunity to win to both the company that donated and you too.Cooki801@afconnect.com